MADISON, Wis. - The widows of two Wiccan combat veterans sued the government Monday, saying the military has dragged its feet on allowing the religion's symbols on headstones.

 

The Department of Veterans Affairs allows military families to choose any of 38 authorized headstone images. The list includes commonly recognized symbols for Christianity, Buddhism, Islam and Judaism, as well as those for smaller religions such as Sufism Reoriented, Eckiankar and the Japanese faith Seicho-No-Ie.

 

The Wiccan pentacle, a five-pointed star surrounded by a circle, is not on the list, an omission the widows say is unconstitutional.

 

Wiccans worship the Earth and believe they must give to the community. Some consider themselves "white," or good, witches, pagans or neo-pagans. Approximately 1,800 active-duty service members identify themselves as Wiccans, according to 2005 Defense Department statistics.

 

The lawsuit was filed by four plaintiffs: Roberta Stewart, whose husband, Nevada National Guard Sgt. Patrick Stewart, was killed in combat in Afghanistan last year; Karen DePolito, whose husband, Jerome Birnbaum, is a Korean War veteran who died last year; Circle Sanctuary, a Wisconsin-based Wiccan church; and Isis Invicta Military Mission, a California-based Wiccan and pagan congregation serving military personnel.

 

It claims that the VA has made "excuse after excuse" for more than nine years for not approving the symbol and that by doing so, it has trampled on the plaintiffs' constitutional rights of freedom of speech, religion and due process.

 

Circle Sanctuary and Stewart began calling in 1997 for the VA to allow the symbol's use.

 

Americans United for Separation of Church and State, a Washington, D.C.-based group representing the plaintiffs in court, is seeking an order compelling the VA to make a decision.

 

"After asking the VA on a number of occasions to stop its unfair treatment of Wiccans in the military, we have no alternative but to seek justice in the courts," said the Rev. Barry Lynn, the group's executive director.

 

The lawsuit was filed in U.S. District Court in Madison and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit in Washington.

 

In memos and letters cited by the lawsuit, Lindee L. Lenox, director of memorial programs for the veterans agency, said the government was reviewing the process for evaluating and approving new emblems and would not accept new applications until the review was complete.

 

The VA issued a statement Monday that outlined the procedure under way to create uniform standards under which new symbols can be accepted, but did not comment on the lawsuit itself.

 

Stewart said she wants the lawsuit to send a message that the government can't pick and choose which faiths appear on headstones.

 

"I'm hoping it's going to open the door to allow other pagan faiths to be approved," Stewart said.

 

Attorneys for Americans United argued in legal papers that it makes no sense for Wiccans to be excluded, saying that the Army allows Wiccan Soldiers to list their faith on dog tags, that Wiccan organizations are allowed to hold services on military installations and that the Army Chaplains Handbook includes an explanation of the religion.

http://www.military.com/NewsContent/0,1331...html?ESRC=eb.nl

 

This is America and they should be allowed to have it.

That's what we're about. Why not let them have it?

There's no reason to deny this. It could have satan on there for all I care, these people gave bravely to their country and as such should have their final wishes honored.

The lawsuit was filed by four plaintiffs: Roberta Stewart, whose husband, Nevada National Guard Sgt. Patrick Stewart, was killed in combat in Afghanistan last year;

No!!!!!!!!!!

 

The bastards killed Picard!!!

 

R.I.P. Mon Capitan.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In all seriousness, there's no reason for these soldiers to not get the religious symbol they want. I mean, they died for this country, what more do they have to do?

I can see the VA limiting the symbols allowed on a headstone, but Wicca has many followers and should be allowed.

I can see the VA limiting the symbols allowed on a headstone, but Wicca has many followers and should be allowed.

I agree, there is definitely a need to limit what headstones are available because you don't want headstones with Swastika's and things like that, however if you're part of an established religion there is no reason in ths world why it should not be allowed.

 

The U.S. military recognizes Wicca as an official religion, but for some reason the VA or whoever handles the headstones and mortuary affairs does not.

 

Attorneys for Americans United argued in legal papers that it makes no sense for Wiccans to be excluded, saying that the Army allows Wiccan Soldiers to list their faith on dog tags, that Wiccan organizations are allowed to hold services on military installations and that the Army Chaplains Handbook includes an explanation of the religion.

 

That's the most interesting part. So if you can do/have all of those things, why not the symbol on a headstone?

Old topic...Endulge

I can see the VA limiting the symbols allowed on a headstone, but Wicca has many followers and should be allowed.

I don't think it should matter how many people follow a certain belief. Your wishes after you're gone should be honored no matter what. Being that they were war heroes just puts more emphasis on it.

Everyone should be honered with their final wishes. Wicca or not, devil, or good, it should be an option. I beleive this lawsuit is valid.

I can't imagine a Swastika ever making it on a headstone, simply because Nazism isn't a religion.

I can't imagine a Swastika ever making it on a headstone, simply because Nazism isn't a religion.

 

Hindu, Buddhism, Jainism...

I can't imagine a Swastika ever making it on a headstone, simply because Nazism isn't a religion.

Not entirely true. Nazism is most definitely not a religion, however the swastika is a sacred religious symbol among several well established peace-loving religions.

 

"For Buddhists and Hindus, the swastika is a very religious symbol that is commonly used. Chirag Badlani shares a story about one time when he went to make some photocopies of some Hindu Gods for his temple. While standing in line to pay for the photocopies, some people behind him in line noticed that one of the pictures had a swastika. They called him a Nazi."

 

You can read more here: http://history1900s.about.com/cs/swastika/...tikahistory.htm